Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men ’97 episode 7
X-Men ’97 just teased an Avengers vs X-Men event years before the MCU’s mutant reboot. As seen in X-Men ’97 episode 7, the titular mutant team of heroes is still reeling from the Fall of Genosha and the brutal massacre of the mutant nation at the hands of a massive Wild Sentinel. This includes Rogue who chooses to delay her grief in favor of revenge, seeking to find those responsible for the devastation and the massive loss of life. As such, Rogue’s path of destruction puts her directly in the path of Captain America himself.
Beginning with Gambit’s funeral which Rogue is notably absent from, it’s quickly established in X-Men ’97 episode 7 that Rogue is on the warpath as she searches for Henry Gyrich and Bolivar Trask, the men responsible for the creation of the mutant-hunting Sentinel program. As such, Rogue is seen butting heads with the US military (including General Thunderbolt Ross). However, Rogue’s encounter with Captain America himself certainly helps tease an exciting MCU future where the X-Men are at odds with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Rogue’s search for Gyrich brings her to a remote cabin in the woods, a front for a secret facility housed underneath belonging to the secret anti-mutant organization OZT. However, Captain America got to the cabin first and was waiting for Rogue, expressing his condolences for Genosha while also urging caution. However, Rogue has very little interest in patience or doing things “by the book”. Once Captain America claims that “his hands are tied” and that he can’t help her, she takes his shield and throws it miles away into the mountains before continuing her hunt for Gyrich.
Thanks to Rogue, there are now very obvious and evident tensions with the First Avenger. As such, it will be interesting to see how heroes like the Avengers react to the X-Men going forward, especially now that these mutant heroes are justifiably angry and are ready to fight even harder for their right to exist. That said, Rogue’s encounter with Captain America in X-Men ’97 acts as a sort of proof-of-concept for the MCU who could one day adapt the classic Avengers vs X-Men storyline from the original comics considering the imminent mutant reboot Marvel Studios is planning.
Rogue certainly helps prove that the Avengers would likely have a hard time reigning in the X-Men if the team were ever to clash (either in this animated Marvel universe and/or in the MCU). After all, there was seemingly very little Captain America could do but watch as Rogue took his shield and chucked it miles away. Despite being a Super Soldier, Rogue could easily handle Captain America with her impressive power-draining abilities and the strength, flight, and durability of Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel.
Furthermore, Rogue decimating the secret US military base at the beginning of X-Men ’97 episode 7 is another sign that taking on the X-Men would be the furthest thing from a walk in the park for the Avengers. While General Ross claims the facility was built to contain the Incredible Hulk, Rogue destroys the defenses and breaks in with incredible ease. While the Avengers have heavy hitters of their own, one can only imagine what an on-screen showdown between the team would look like (and how much damage they collectively cause).
As exciting as an MCU adaptation of Avengers vs X-Men would be, it probably won’t happen for a few years. After all, Marvel Studios is only now waving farewell to Fox’s X-Men universe with the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. As such, one would imagine a few movies would be needed to effectively introduce and integrate the rebooted X-Men into the MCU before a movie is dedicated to them taking on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. That said, Rogue and Captain America’s encounter in X-Men ’97 is certainly a fun sort of quasi-preview of what such a conflict could look like in the MCU.